![MEX](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/2024-08/2r8knh8.jpg?itok=guVZOQ-U)
The Mexican government is merging three airport entities as part of a move officials say will streamline operations, boost security and improve air connectivity nationwide.
The country’s Navy confirmed that Grupo Aeroportuario de la Ciudad de México and Servicios Aeroportuarios de la Ciudad de México are being brought together with Mexico City International Airport (AICM). The merger aims to optimize operations and resources.
AICM will continue as a majority state-owned company controlled by the federal government, maintaining its role as the operator of Mexico City's Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX), the country's primary international gateway.
As part of the merger, AICM will now also manage airports in Ciudad del Carmen, Ciudad Obregón, Colima, Guaymas, Loreto and Matamoros while also holding a stake in Toluca International Airport.
This expansion marks the formation of a new entity, initially called Casiopea, and now operating under the commercial name of Grupo Aeroportuario Marina. The group will be under the control of the Mexican Navy and headquartered in a building previously occupied by Interjet, which ceased operations in late 2020.
The planned merger, which is set to take effect later this year, comes as Mexico’s Tourism Ministry announced average load factor on international services to Mexico reached 86% in June, marking the highest figure recorded so far for 2024.
Overall, 14.9 million passengers arrived on international flights to Mexico during the first six months of 2024, of which: 79% came from North America; 11.9% from the Caribbean, Central and South America; 8.5% from Europe; and 0.6% from Asia. The routes with the largest number of scheduled seats were Dallas-Cancun, Los Angeles-Guadalajara and Toronto-Cancun.
The Tourism Ministry says that Cancún, Guadalajara and MEX collectively accounted for 70.4% of all international seat capacity from Mexico during the first half.